Reviews by IpeeA:

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(Served in a tulip glass)
A- This beer has a dense opaque brown body with a bubbly head that soon disappears and a gentle carbonation.

S- The raisin aroma takes on a rich port aroma with some wet oak and dark cola notes to it. There is a nice vinous finish that has almost a bourbon quality to it.

T- The blends of dry malt and faint roasted malt hint with the dry vinous dark port really work together. There is some nice big red wine notes with some grape seed bitterness in the finish with a nice alcohol taste. The rich flavor lingers for a moment after the finish.

M- The medium-light mouthfeel has a gentle carbonation and a well hidden alcohol warmth.

O- This beer has lots of big great character that blends and compliments very well for such big flavors. The port character and malt sweetness don’t get overly sweet and the nice big alcohol in the finish helps to cut the big flavors and makes it a delicious sipper.

Pours out a very cloudy dark brown to black with very little off-white small suds that stay with the pour for the length of the drink. Lacing here for sure.
The aroma is raisin and date and sugar malts. The alcohol is pretty evident here. The belgian yeast is here also but the whole thing smells like sour raisins.
Taste is pretty good for a 10%er. You have the belgian spices and the oatmeal and raisin but the alcohol really puts this beer in the "hot" range. Still not so overbearing as to be bad.
Mouthfeel is sticky and the flavor retention is very nice here.
Overall I think this is a very good beer from a so-so brewer.

22 oz. bottle, with no apparent bottled on date present, although the label does mention it being bottled sometime in June 2011. Either way, the local store still has bottles of this so I thought it was about time to try it out. My first big bottle from O'Fallon Brewery, "ale aged in port barrels". I have no idea what to expect.

Poured into a clear balloon snifter.

A - Pours a murky muddy caramel brown colored body with a slight conjuration of some tan bubbles that thins to a bubbly ring. Some okay lacing, but none seems to stick. Either way, it looks very nice and appealing.

S - The aroma is very lovely and has a lot going on - earthy and woodsy, caramel, oak wood, vanilla, caramelized / candied raisins. The smell is akin to a beautiful bourbon barrel aged stout at times. Very nice.

T - Tart on the initial sip from the port barrel aging, which was slightly unexpected based on the aroma. Very dry / tannic, with a very prominent red grapes / red wine warmth and flavor. Extremely wine-like at times, with notes of chocolate, burnt caramel, and a woodsy sort of roastiness / bitterness on the finish. I am actually really enjoying this.

M - The feel is smooth and creamy. Dry and port-like on the finish. Lightly bitter, fruity, and tart. Good carbonation still hanging in there, considering this beer is getting up there with age.

Overall, an excellent and fairly complex beer from O'Fallon that has held up nicely. Probably one of the best wine barrel aged beers I've had yet, and definitely the best effort I've had from O'Fallon so far. I would definitely be interested in grabbing another bottle of this to hold down further. Highly recommended if it is still available to you.

S - Sweet and tart dark fruit, including raisins, figs, dates, and plums. Vanilla and a strong port aroma. Sweet plum and berry jam aroma on the finish. Very reminiscent of jam/preserves along with a nice port kick. I'm really digging the nose.

T - Similar to the nose but with more port and oaky flavor and slightly more tart. Dark fruit dominates with raisin and date being the strongest. Vanilla is definitely present along with a sweet brown sugar flavor. Some sweet plum and berry. Finishes with a tart dark fruit/port. Pretty sweet overall.

D - Sweet and borderline cloying. Flavors meld together well and make this a nice sipper overall. Alcohol is very well hidden despite the fact that the port flavors are very strong. Fairly drinkable as a sweet beer to sip.

Notes: Overall it's a nice dessert/nightcap beer. The combo of port barrels and a BSDA is great as both flavors compliment each other nicely. It gets a touch on the cloying side, but other than that I really don't have any complaints. Solid beer that I would gladly drink again.

Pours out a super hazy, murky, dark brown color with a small, light brown head of bubbly foam that immediately dissipates. When I swirl in attempt to agitate some foam, I get a little more, that leaves minimal lacing.

Where the appearance drops the ball, the aromas more than make up for it. Initially all I get is crazy amounts of oak and alcohol. After it opens up (literally only a couple minutes) the unpleasant booziness vanishes and I get really pleasant dark fruitiness, delicious sweet/vinous port and amazing dark caramelized malts. No way you would know that this is a Belgian ale (no yeast esters or phenols).

The tastes, however, do have some Belgian characteristics to blend harmoniously with the superbly balanced barrel aging. First you get the sweet port and vinous dry red wine flavors, then the Belgian beer base shows itself, transitioning into the light Belgian spice/clove. There is an emerging apple and more dark fruits (raisins/prunes) as it warms.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a lower than normal amount of carbonation, but I attribute that to the barrel aging. Dry, vinous, slightly yeasty finish; equally vinous and Belgian.

Overall this beer was a great treat. Very unique and nothing like I have ever had to date. I have recently become adverse of Belgian ales because of the overly phenolic and estery nature of poorly made American examples, but I love wine Barrel aged beers so I had to seek this one out and I am quite glad I did. The Belgian presence is subtle enough that it add to the complexity of the flavor profile without overshadowing the delicious port barrel flavors. Flavors emerge more and more as it warms so make sure you don't drink this too cold. Well worth seeking out as it is a very unique and delicious brew.

Pours a murky dark brown with almost no head into a New Belgium globe. Smell has a lot barrel smell along with red grapes or raisin smell. A little smoke in the smell along with dark fruits and cinnamon. Taste doesn't have a sharp bite and is surprisingly smooth. Mild carbonation and fair booziness. Taste is not as complex as the nose but still taste like a standard good dark belgian with a little bit of barrel behind it. Overall this is a solid beer but a bit underwhelming for the price.

Had it on tap and in the 22oz bomber bottle at Piasa Winery in Grafton, IL.

A - Poured out a murky, dark brown color with a small, light brown head of bubbly foam. The long lasting head receded to leave patchy lacing on the glass.

S: Smells like Port, with a hint of chocoalte and maybe tobacco? As other reviewers say, it's really wonderful to just smell it.

T: Definately has port attributes, has some woody flavor with some fruit and the finish is very belgian.

M: Smooth, glassy, little bit on the end to let you know it has some ABV to it.

O: I'm not much of a "sour" guy, but I guess this qualifies, although it's not along the lines of a consecration from RR, it definately has the Port in it. Woody, Great smell, great mouthfeel, with a real belgian finish. Awesome!